Police are searching a property belonging to Sir Cliff Richard in relation to the alleged sexual assault of a boy in the 1980s.

Officers from South Yorkshire Police are searching the property in Sunningdale, Berkshire, after receiving an allegation of a sexual nature dating back to the 1980s involving a boy who was under 16 at the time.

Nobody has been arrested and the owner was not present, the force said.

A spokeswoman said: ''South Yorkshire Police has gained entry to a property in the Sunningdale area of Berkshire.

''Officers are currently searching the property.

''A search warrant was granted after police received an allegation of a sexual nature dating back to the 1980s involving a boy who was under the age of 16 at the time.

''No one has been arrested and the owner of the property was not present.''

Thames Valley Police confirmed that it had helped the South Yorkshire force with the execution of a search warrant at the address in Sunningdale, Berkshire.

The search is not connected to Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree, launched in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

No representative for Sir Cliff was available to comment immediately. The star is reported to be at a holiday home in Portugal.